Wall type can opener



1957 M. J. LA FORTE 2,802,258

WALL TYPE CAN OPENER Y Filed Sept. 16, 1954 12 .F/B.2. 6 I 18 P/Ei. 4 24 JO "#3 fizz/5mm; Micfiaei f Zafrfe Witty,

United States Patent '0 2,802,258 WALL TYPE CAN OPENER Michael J. La Forte, Park Ridge, 11]., assignor to Vaughan Mfg. (10., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application September 16, 1954, Serial No. 456,507 1 Claim. (Cl. 30-9) My invention relates to a wall type can opener.

In my Patent No. 2,573,031 issued Qctober 30, 1951, a can opener of the handoperated portable type is disclosed which in practice functions exceedingly efliciently, whose design is such that it apparently attracts the eye of the buying public and whose commercial success has been very substantial. The instant application is in part d1rected to the incorporation of the structure there set forth in a wall type can opener with improvements and additions as will be described. One object of my inventron may, therefore, be considered to be a wall type can opener embodying the advantages of the portable type Opener disclosed in the above referred to patent. More speclfically, my object is to provide a wall type can opener whose can engaging and driving mechanism operates in a superior fashion, whose compensation for irregularities in the thickness of a can bead and for varying curvatures of the can bead is superior to those hitherto known. Another object of my invention lies in the incorporation in novel fashion of the above. described portable can opener in a wall mounting.

In the course of incorporating this opener into a wall mount, I have provided certain improvements in accessory features. The first of these is an improved flexible magnetic can top holder to retain the can top after it has been severed from the can, first for the purpose of preventing the top from falling into the contents of the can and second, for the purpose of holding the can top when the can is removed from the opener in order to provide a clean method of removingthecan top from the can after severance as compared to the usual somewhat messy method of pushing one edge of the can top down as it rests on the contents in order to elevate the other edge. Although magnetic can top retainers are old, my retainer enjoys the advantage of being exceedingly flexible and adaptable to the tops of cans whose sides may be variably angled and whose tops may be variably recessed below the bead. In short, my retainer is flexibly mounted in a fashion that permits, first, a natural engagement of the retainer with the can top as the user of the opener inserts the can into the opener. Second, after engagement, the retainer follows the can top to the positionimposed on it by the opener durlllng severance and still remains in engagement there wit Another improvement whichd have effected is a method of storing the can opener on its wall mounting bracket in a way which is simple and sightly and steady.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a can opener embodying my invention shown in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing, however, the opener suspended in non-operating or storage position;

Fig. 3 is a section which may be regarded as being taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the mounting bracket;

Fig. 5; is an elevation of the base of the mounting arm of the opener; p

Fig. 6 is a section which may be regarded as being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the magnet housing of my nve on k aw n P rt.

2,862,258 Patented Aug. 13, 1957 The illustrated can opener is a wall type opener, and, as such, includes an arm 10, oneend of which is adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and the other end of which carries the can opener operating mechanism.

The method of attachment of the opener of my invention to the wall in its operating position is conventional.

A bracket 12 (Fig. 4), secured to a wall by screws 14, has the longitudinal edges 16 thereof inclining upwardly and rearwardly toward each other. The base 18 of the arm has a vertical slot or keyway 20 in the end thereof complemental to the front surface and edges 16 of the bracket 12 so that when the keyway 20 of thearm is inserted over the bracket 12 and dropped thereon, the matching surfaces of the arm and bracket sufiice to hold the arm with a wedging fit rigidly and firmly to the wall.

A dstinctive feature of my invention, however, lies in the provision of an upper extension 24 of the base of the arm in which is formed a second keyway 26 again complemental to the operative surfaces of the bracket 12. The width of the supplemental keyway is intermediate the width of the narrow upper end of the bracket and the wider lower end of the bracket. Thus, when it is desired that the opener be stored on the wall between occasions of use, it may be conveniently hung from the bracket by virtue of the second keyway 26 so that the arm hangs vertically in the fashion illustrated in Fig. 2, and does not project out into the working area.

The arm of my invention may be divided into two parts: a lower die cast main portion 28 and an upper plastic cap 30 for convenience of assembly, for purposes of a more colorful, attractive article and for a greater finish permanence on the upper surfaces where marring is most likely to occur. The die cast portion includes the base 18.

The other end, the outer end, of the die cast arm part is formed to have a depression 32 therein which opens to the left side and bottom of the arm, viewing the opener from the front. An integral rib 34 extends outward from the arm and downward beside the inside edge of the depression 32 and terminates at the bottom thereof. Holes 36 to accommodate rivets are formed in the bottom surface of the arm on either side of the depression 32.

A pair of vertical grooves 38 are also provided inside the depression 32 and adjacent its side opening which continue a short distance on the bottom faces of the arm for purposes to be described later.

I incorporate into the arm of my opener an opening mechanism which resembles the opening mechanism disclosed in my patent identified above. This mechanism consists first of a generally rectangular body 40 with three extensions or appendages on the upper edge and one on the lower which are bent relative to the body to accomplish various purposes. This member is preferably a heavy sheet metal stamping. The lower extension is bent outwardly to a right angle on a horizontal line to con stitute a guide lug 42. The two outer of the upper edge extensions are also bent outwardly to a right angle on a horizontal line to define guide members 44 and 46. These guide members are punched for the reception of rivets 48 by which the opening mechanism is attached to the arm 10. The central upper edge extension constitutes a mounting lug 50 which likewise is outbent but only slightly to be at a large obtuse angle to the plane of the body. The bend of the mounting lug is along an upwardly inclined line so that the lug not only has the T inward slope but a forward slope as well for purposes to be brought out later. therethrough.

l contemplate that a disk type cutter 54 be used in conjunction with my invention. This cutter has an axle 56 therefor and the end of the axle is contained in the The mounting lug has a bore 52 3 bore 52 of the mounting lug 50 so as to be both rotatable and axially slidable therein.

I provide further a U-shaped spring 58 having inturned clips 60 at oneend thereof. The clips are sufficiently spaced so that that end of the spring may be forcibly driven over the mounting lug 50 with the clips in firm engagement with the sides thereof. The other, free, end 62 of the spring bears against the center of the disk cutter and serves to hold the axle 56 of the cutter in the bore 52.

The body member has a quadrant-shaped slot 64 formed therein and a small point of metal 66 pressed out of the metal to form a cam abutment on the inside surface thereof. 7

A driving wheel 68 is provided which has a hub 70 of small diameter than the wheel itself. The hub 70 is contained in the quadrant-shaped slot 64 to fit said slot relatively closely but to be freely rotatable and slidable therein. A rivet 72 serves to interconnect fixedly the driving wheel and a crank handle 74. Interposed between the handle and hub of the driving wheel is a kidney-shaped cam 76. For purposes of ornamentation, a plastic cap 78 may be provided to overlie the connected end of the handle and the rivet may terminate in an ornamental head 80. The rivet 72 may be flat-sided and the holes receiving the rivet in the driving wheel, the handle and the cam substantially rectangular so that the three members rotate together as a unit. This detail has not been illustrated, as it is entirely obvious. The slot 64 is such that the driving wheel may move from a position downwardly and rearwardly of the disk cutter 54 and substantially spaced therefrom, first generally upwardly and then forwardly to bring it immediately under the cutting wheel and overlapped therewith.

The grooves 38 are employed to contain a magnet bracket 82.. This bracket may consist of relatively light but stiff wire bent through approximately 540 to define a U with a loop 84 at the bottom thereof. The free ends of the wire 82 each are bent through approximately a right angle out of the plane defined by the U-shaped bend. These bent ends are contained within the grooves 38. The extremities of the wire may be further bent away from each other to lie in those portions of the grooves 38 which extend across the bottom of the arm, these extremities being clamped in these grooveportions by the guide members 44 and 46 as riveted to the arm 10. v

The two arms of the U enter the magnet housing 86 through a pair of windows 90 formed therein. The loop 84 encircles loosely a vertical rod 92 within the housing. A small washer 88 encircles the rod 92 and a light spring 94 interposed between the washer and the top of the housing urges the housing upward. A permanent magnet is embedded in the lower part of the housing with the poles thereof extending to the bottom surface of the housing.

The operation of my invention will be understood from the foregoing description. With the driving wheel 68 in the lower rearward end of the slot 64 and the cam oriented so that the notch therein lies against the stud 66, a can is inserted with the bead thereof overlying the top edge of the driving wheel 68. The guide lug 42 bearing against the side of the can will cause the can to assume a slight angle with respect to the opener body 40. Upon rotation of the handle in the clockwise direction (or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1) the cam serves to raise the driving wheel through the vertical portion of the slot 64 and force the can bead inside the disk cutter and up against the guide members 44 and 46 to effect initial penetration of the can top. At the same time, the top of the can is brought sufficiently close to the lower surface of the magnet housing so that the magnet will be attracted thereto and hold the can top. The amount of downward vertical movement permitted by the spring 94 insures that even though the can top be not brought into direct contact with the magnet housing the spring 94 is light enough and the magnet in the housing strong enough so that the housing as a unit will be brought into contact with the can top by magnetic attraction. The normal elevated position of the magnet housing insures that the housing will not interfere with inserting a can into the opener. The mounting of the housing on the bracket 82 is loose enough to permit angular changes of the housing with respect to the bracket so that the magnetic poles lie fiat against the can top regardless of variations in the can top angle during open ing.

Thereafter, continued rotation of the handle moves the driving wheel to the forward end of slot 64 and the thrust on the driving wheel resulting from the continued rotation of the handle serves to maintain the driving wheel at that end, and the disk cutter 54 in continuous cutting relation with the can until the can top is completely severed. When the can top is totally severed, the direction of rotation of the handle is reversed. This applies a reverse traction on the driving wheel and, the can being held within the opener with substantial frictional force, it is the driving wheel which will move first to the rear and then, when the notch in the kidney-shaped cam lies opposite the stud 66, the driving wheel will drop to the lower rearward end of the slot 64, releasing the can. The can may be removed and the top will adhere to the magnet.

Thus the portable hand type can opening mechanism of my above identified patent has been modified to adopt the guide members 44 and 46 to serve as parts of the means for attaching that mechanism to the arm 10 and to cooperate with the cutter 54 and the driving or feeding wheel 68 for supporting the can while feeding it relative to the cutter during an opening operation.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have adapted in highly ingenious fashion a popular portable can opener to wall mounted usage. I have provided a novel and ingenious magnetic can top holder to be employed in conjunction with the opener, and the opener contains novel and successful provision for wall storage on the wall bracket when not in use.

I claim:

A wall type can opener adapted to support a can during the opening operation and comprising a can opener body having two substantially coplanar can guiding flanges projecting in the same direction from one side of said body. a disc cutter rotatably mounted on said body between said flanges, rotatable can feeding means mounted on said body for movement relative to said cutter between a can piercing and cutting position and a can releasing position, an arm having Wall attaching means at one end and a depression bounded by two bosses with coplanar bottom faces adjacent the other end, means securing said can guiding flanges to said bottom faces with an upper portion of the body received in said depression, and operating means on said body drivingly connected to said feed means and rotatable in one direction to move said feeding means to said can piercing and cutting position and reversely rotatable to move the feed means to said can releasing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,487 Hilliard Apr. 29, 1930 2,244,846 Moeller June 10, 1941 2,454,664 McLean Nov. 23, 1948 2,462,416 Nelson Feb. 22, 1949 2,471,342 Nelson May 24, 1949 2,498,441 McLean Feb. 21, 1950 2,563,569 Walton Aug. 7, 1951 2,573,031 La Forte Oct. 30, 1951 2,592,936 McLean Apr. 15, 1952 2,624,110 Acker a Jan. 6, 1953 2,647,306 Landry Aug. 4, 1953 2,647,307 Landry Aug. 4, 1953 2,648,127 Nelson Aug. 11, 1953 2,694,855 Talge Nov. 23, 1954 

